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Phillies' Quinn, Alfaro worth watching in final weeks

The Phillies' Roman Quinn Monday in the bottom of the first inning at Citizens Bank Park against the Pirates. Quinn's speed has the potential to be a game-changer for the Phillies.(Photo: Mitchell Leff, Getty Images)

PHILADELPHIA – As the Phillies play out the final 17 games of the 2016 season, there are two reasons to keep watching.

Roman Quinn and Jorge Alfaro.

They were promoted from Double-A Reading on Sunday, and both were in the lineup for Tuesday's 5-3 loss against the Pirates. Quinn went 2 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored in the loss while Alfaro finished 0 for 4 with two strikeouts.

It represented the third consecutive start in the outfield for Quinn while Alfaro started his first MLB game behind the plate. On Monday, the two 23 year olds became the first pair of Phillies to record their first MLB hits in the same game since April 25, 2008 (Chad Durbin and Brad Harman).

Both players provide some excitement with attributes that could make a difference on the Phillies' 2017 roster.

Quinn's speed — he stole 31 bases at Reading this season — and his ability to get on base gives the Phillies' offense another speedy weapon. He reached on a bunt single in the sixth inning Tuesday against the Pirates. Although the ball was bunted right back to the pitcher, Pirates starter Ivan Nova didn't even bother attempting a throw to first base because Quinn was so easily safe.

Overcoming numerous injuries, most recently a concussion, has made the call up and earning his first MLB hit (an RBI double Monday) even more satisfying for Quinn. The last few days have been so crazy Quinn said he hasn't had a chance to soak in the experience. Quinn has reached base safely in 7 of his 13 plate appearances since getting called up.

"It would have been easy for me to get down on myself and want to just give up," Quinn said. "But I had good people around me to help me out and help me stay focused. I tried to do everything to stay on the field and something I can't control [like the concussion] still ends up happening."

Alfaro has a strong arm and surprising athleticism for a catcher. He has the ability to add some juice to the lineup, hitting 15 home runs and 21 doubles at Reading. He must continue to improve his pitch calling, but Alfaro will have the opportunity to impress the Phillies heading into the offseason.

It helped that Alfaro was catching a familiar pitcher in his first career start. Alfaro and right-hander Alec Asher worked together previously at High-A Myrtle Beach and Double-A Frisco in the Rangers' organization as well as at Reading. Alfaro said it helped a lot having Asher on the mound Tuesday. Although he admitted to feeling some nerves in the first two innings, Alfaro settled in and helped Asher hold the Pirates to two runs in 6 ⅓ innings.

"I felt very excited to make my family proud of me," Alfaro said. "My hometown, I know they believe in me. I didn't believe it at the beginning. That's all I'm trying to do, make people proud. I made it. It's not just me. It's Colombia and my hometown."

Manager Pete Mackanin expects Alfaro will start about eight more games this season. With Cameron Rupp as the starter and Alfaro getting worked in, Mackanin informed A.J. Ellis he will get limited playing time the rest of the season. Alfaro's only noticeable mistake in his debut occurred in the seventh inning when he was unable to get in front of a wild pitch that reliever Michael Mariot uncorked with the bases loaded, allowing a Pirates run to score and tie the game at 2.

"He needs work, he's a young catcher," Mackanin said. "The mechanics and defensive ability is one thing, calling a game is extremely important and that's a work in progress for everybody. Knowing the league, knowing the hitters.

"He can run, he's got an excellent arm," he added. "I saw him in the spring, but that's the spring. He's going to need work defensively."

Making the jump from Double-A to the majors isn't the easiest transition. The quality of pitchers is obviously much better in the big leagues. The ballparks are larger, featuring third decks, as well as bigger crowds.

"Whatever I can learn in all those days, every day you learn something new to help you," Alfaro said. "That's what I'm trying to do. Learn and be the best player I can be."

Mackanin believes a player's confidence after skipping a level is a huge factor in finding success.

"I think the confidence level is what you have to reach," Mackanin said. "You have to believe you can play here. ... Somebody asked if they can establish themselves, but not in three weeks. Because we've seen over the course of years how players come up and have great months of September and never pan out and vice versa."

Quinn and Alfaro's potential is tantalizing. Even with the small sample size they'll have in the majors by the end of the season, it's hard to not imagine them impacting the Phillies next season at some point. Quinn is particularly intriguing and should get plenty of opportunities the rest of this month to show he can handle playing in the big leagues.

"Obviously I want to showcase my talents, but I'm just trying to see what it's like being in this league and make the adjustments from there," Quinn said.